The role of follicular T helper cells in patients with malignant lymphoid disease.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the dynamic change of follicular T helper cells (TFH) in patients with malignant lymphoid disease (MLD) and to explore its clinical significance.

METHODS

The dynamic change of TFH cells, ICOS+- and PD-1+ TFH cells at pretreatment and different treatment periods was determined by flow cytometry in 85 MLD patients. Concentration of interleukin 21 (IL-21) was evaluated by ELISA, and the correlation between clinical prognosis and the ratio of TFH cells was analyzed.

RESULTS

Significantly increased ICOS+- and PD-1+ TFH cells were found in MLD patients at pretreatment compared to healthy controls. Decreased or even close to normal levels of ICOS+- and PD-1+ TFH cells were found at the end of treatment. However, in the patients with progressive disease, high levels of ICOS+- and PD-1+ TFH cells were found. Moreover, a significantly increased plasma IL-21 level was found in MLD patients. Negative correlation was found between the level of ICOS+-, PD-1+ TFH cells, as well as IL-21 and the prognosis of MLD.

CONCLUSIONS

Significantly increased TFH cell ratios were found in patients with MLD, and decreased TFH cells ratios could be expected in those treatment-effective patients, which could be used as the therapeutic efficacy index.